Perfume is about a man named Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, who is born in 18th-century France with an extraordinary sense of smell. He becomes obsessed with capturing the perfect scent and goes to great lengths to achieve it. The story explores his dark and twisted journey through the world of fragrance, where he grapples with his own identity and the morality of his actions.
Table of Content
Perfume Book Summary
The story begins with the birth of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille beneath a fish stall, a moment marked by the death of his mother. Growing up, he discovers his extraordinary sense of smell. Working under perfumer Giuseppe Baldini, Grenouille learns the art of perfume-making. His obsession with capturing the perfect scent leads him to murder young women, extracting their essences.
Grenouille becomes an apprentice to a tanner, learning the method of preserving scents. He returns to Paris and, through a series of events, kills a young girl, Laure Richis, whose scent he believes to be the perfect one he has been searching for.
After Laure's murder, the city is in an uproar. Grenouille allows himself to be captured and sentenced to death. However, at the last moment, he uses a method he learned from the tanner to spread his scent, causing the crowd to idolize him. He walks away, invisible, and his scent compels people to believe him a god.
His presence forgotten, Grenouille retreats to a cave where he begins to distill the scents he has collected from his victims into a perfume. The process consumes him, and he uses the last of the scent to attract the attention of the public, who, upon his death, tear him apart.
At the end of Perfume, Grenouille finally creates a perfume that has the power to make people love and adore him. He applies it to himself, and the crowd that had been about to execute him instead lavishes love and admiration upon him. Sated, Grenouille leaves the crowd, who soon forget about him as he dies, alone, in his cave.
Perfume Quotes
- He felt that he was still in possession of his soul, still master of his own free will, for to be sure, it was a very strange kind of freedom.
- He was not to blame for the fact that he distrusted all people who talked too much. He had often talked too much himself, but so far, he had always been able to make up for it by his readiness to talk about new things.
- He possessed the power. He held it in his hand. A power stronger than the power of money or the power of terror or the power of death: the invincible power to command the love of mankind. There was only one thing the perfume could not do. It could not turn him into a person who could love and be loved like everyone else.
Perfume Ending Explained
At the end of Perfume, Grenouille uses the final perfume he has created to manipulate the crowd about to execute him. He is able to breathe in the adoration of the people for just a moment before he leaves them behind.
Ultimately, he returns to his cave where he releases the perfume into the air, and as its scent wafts through the city, it causes a mass orgy of love and death among the citizens. Grenouille dies alone, satisfied that he has created the most powerful scent in the world.
In his last moments, he experiences a sense of peace and fulfillment that had eluded him his entire life, bringing his dark and twisted journey to a close.
Characters in book Perfume
- Jean-Baptiste Grenouille: The protagonist, born with an extraordinary sense of smell, who becomes obsessed with capturing the perfect scent.
- Madame Gaillard: The wet nurse who raises Grenouille and mistreats him, leading to his distrust of humanity.
- Giuseppe Baldini: A washed-up perfumer whom Grenouille apprenticed under and from whom he learned the art of perfumery.
- Laurent: A fellow journeyman working under Baldini, who becomes Grenouille's first victim.
- Antoine Richis: The second most important character in the story, the father of the redheaded girl, whom Grenouille later desires to capture her scent.
- Giuseppe Baldini: A washed-up perfumer whom Grenouille apprenticed under and from whom he learned the art of perfumery.
Key Lessons
- Embrace Your Uniqueness: Each person has unique abilities and qualities that can be used for both good and ill. Acknowledging and understanding them is essential to navigating life.
- True Beauty Lies Within: External beauty, such as physical appearance or scent, can be captivating, but it's the inner beauty and character that truly define a person's worth and legacy.
- The Power of Perception: The way others perceive you can shape your reality, but genuine connections and actions are more meaningful than mere appearances or illusions.
- Seeking Purpose: The quest for purpose is an intrinsic part of the human experience. Understanding one's true calling can lead to fulfillment and contentment.
- Morality and Ethics: The distinction between right and wrong can be blurred, and one's actions may be judged differently depending on the context and perspective of those around you.
My Personal Opinion
Is Perfume worth reading? I would say Yes, I found it to be a truly unique and thought-provoking story. The exploration of scent and its link to human emotions is fascinating. Grenouille's descent into darkness is both disturbing and captivating.
I was impressed by the depth of the narrative and the skill with which Süskind creates an atmospheric world. However, I must admit that the subject matter can be quite macabre and unsettling. The protagonist's lack of empathy and the gruesome scenes may not sit well with all readers.
I found the book to be a complex and intriguing psychological study. It's not for the faint of heart, but it offers a profound look at the human condition. I would recommend it to those who appreciate literary works that push boundaries and provoke deep reflection.